COLLINGWOOD defender Nathan Brown will not require a shoulder reconstruction, but the backman still faces more than a month on the sidelines.
Scans on Monday revealed a positive outcome for Brown and the Magpies, meaning he has avoided the worst-case scenario of surgery and up to three months on the sidelines.
"I think it was the best news we could have hoped for," Magpies football manager Rodney Eade told collingwoodfc.com.au.
"It'll probably be four to five weeks (out), we've got to get the swelling down in his shoulder joint but we're reasonably confident that that's a pretty good result for us."
Magpies captain Scott Pendlebury also had "precautionary scans" on Monday, but should be fit to take on Geelong on Saturday night.
"Pendlebury got a knock to his lower leg which pushed his ankle over a little bit. His ankle seems ok, but (the scan) was more precautionary," Eade said.
Small defender Ben Sinclair is another player the club has added to the injury list after twinging a hamstring late in the win over the Swans.
"He's unfortunately got a minor strain in his hamstring, he just felt that tighten up at the end of the game," Eade said.
"The maximum will be three (weeks) but we're quite confident it will be two weeks."
The loss of Brown and Sinclair opens the door for Lachie Keeffe and Alex Fasolo to earn a senior recall, as like for like swaps for the two injured Magpies.
With Ben Reid (calf) still a few weeks from returning, Keeffe is likely to be called upon as cover to assist Jack Frost in defence against a Tom Hawkins-led Cats forward line.
Fasolo may also receive a call-up after impressing in a creative role across half-back.
The 21-year-old has built up sufficient game time after returning from a serious foot injury and kicked a couple of crucial goals when freed to push forward in the VFL on Saturday.
